Normally, the summer is the slow time for theater, but not so in Baltimore. This month in the city that reads–and loves theater–there are oodles of productions up, including a (mostly sold-out) run of “Hamilton” at the Hippodrome.
Don’t worry if you choose not to shell out rent money on black market or resale tickets for the Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway hit, as there are 27 other options to see live stories this month, including a hip-hop Shakespeare show, outdoor productions of more Shakespeare and “Hair,” and a bevy of indoor plays and musicals.
Last Chance: Shows Closing This Weekend (June 2)
“The Burning of Widows” presented by OnTheRoad Theater, June 1, at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 3050 Liberty Heights Ave., info/tickets.
OnTheRoad describes this new play as a collection of “narratives about women, everywhere” told through a meeting of strangers trapped in a hospital emergency room who argue about how women should be treated.
“Much Ado About Nothing: a Hip Hop Shakespeare Adaptation” presented by Fools and Madmen, through June 2 at Motor House, 120 W. North Ave., info/tickets.
An update on this romantic comedy is the second hip-hop Shakespeare adaptation by Baltimore collective Fools and Madmen, who will tour the show at Baltimore City Public Schools in addition to public shows at Motor House.
“Vinegar Tom” presented by Spotlighters Theatre, through June 2 at Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul St., info/tickets.
Women are subjected to humiliating investigations in this play set during a 17th-century witch hunt.
One- and Two-Night Onlys + Miscellaneous
“Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” presented by Guerrilla Theatre Front, June 21-22, at a campsite, parking at 1000 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville, info/tickets.
See the 1970s “Let the Sun Shine” musical about a tribe of bohemians in a brand new way, around a bonfire in Catonsville. Bring blankets, and before the show, picnic or buy grilled food and browse a “Maker’s Market” featuring soap, baked goods, tarot readings, massages and more. There’s nudity, and the event is 18+.
“Drunk Shakespeare (and Other Dead White Guys)” presented by Single Carrot Theatre, June 22, at Single Carrot Theater, 2600 N. Howard St., info/tickets.
Single Carrot presents its latest installment of a “Drunk History”-style interpretation of Shakespeare and other dead white guy writers. Tickets include a post-show “Midsummer Night’s Bash,” which includes an open bar so that actors won’t be the only intoxicated theater people in the building.
“OLGA Presents: a Stand-Up Show!!! (or The Alibi Play)” presented by OLGA comedy, on June 22 at Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St., info/tickets.
Half stand-up, half theater, this new play from the minds of OLGA comedy (Baltimore-based indie comedy duo Jen Diamond and Pam Hugi) twists together reality, fantasy and friendship to figure out what it means to be a truly “good person.”
“Time Travel Tours at The Peale,” presented by David London, through June 20, at the Peale Center, 225 Holliday St., info/tickets.
Baltimore curator, storyteller and historian David London offers guided “Time Travel Tours” to Rembrandt Peale’s study in the year 1819 to groups of 2 to 10 guests.
Contemporary and Brand New Plays
“Tornkid” presented by Cohesion Theatre Company and Baltimore Asian Pasifika Arts Collective, through June 9 at United Evangelical Church, 923 S. East Ave., info/tickets.
The new play harnesses indigenous Asian and Pacific creation stories to explore identity and unearth how ancient female narratives can provide guidance towards healing our broken world. Plus, puppets! Baltimore loves puppets.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” presented by Broadway Across America, June 4-9, at Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St., info/tickets.
In this slapstick 2015 comedic play about a murder-mystery play, things quickly start going wrong on opening night of the show within a show, with an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).
“10x10x10” presented by Fells Point Corner Theatre, through June 16 at Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann St., info/tickets.
The seventh festival continues the formula of 10 fully produced 10-minute plays by local playwrights performed by an ensemble cast of 10 actors, and includes audience voting and cash prizes.
“Queens Girl in the World” presented by Everyman Theatre, through June 23 at Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St., info/tickets.
Performed for the first time as a two-play repertory with Caleen’s “Queens Girl in Africa,” “Queens Girl in the World” chronicles the misadventures of Jacqueline Marie Butler, who suddenly transfers from a protective, middle class late-1950s upbringing in Queens to a progressive, predominantly-Jewish private school in Greenwich Village.
“Queens Girl in Africa” presented by Everyman Theatre, through June 23 at Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St., info/tickets.
“Queens Girl in Africa” follows Jacqueline Marie Butler when her family ups and moves to Nigeria following the assassination of civil rights leader Malcolm X (a close personal family friend).
Tried and True Plays
“Rumors” presented by Just Off Broadway, through June 15 at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4605 Belair Road, info/tickets.
The Neil Simon farce features four high-society couples gathering for one couple’s 10th wedding anniversary.
“A Few Good Men” presented by Stand Up For…Theatre, through June 15 at The Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, info/tickets.
Aaron Sorkin’s debut 1989 play (which he adapted for the 1992 movie) tells the story of a group of military lawyers assigned to defend two Marines.
“Sylvia” presented by Cockpit in Court, June 15-29, at CCBC Essex’s Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Rosedale, info/tickets.
This contemporary comedy is a sort of love triangle involving middle-age, upper-class Greg, his wife Kate, and a dog named Sylvia, who, as Kate puts it, eats a serious hole in their 22-year marriage.
“Steel Magnolias” presented by Spotlighters Theatre, June 21-July 14, at Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St Paul St., info/tickets.
Bring your tissues for this dramedy about a group of Southern women who gossip, laugh and face mortality at a small-town Louisiana beauty salon.
“The Crucible” presented by Vagabond Players, through June 30 at Vagabond Players, 806 S. Broadway, info/tickets.
Arthur Miller’s 1953 drama is a fictionalized account of the Salem Witch Trials told through a group of young Salem women who falsely accuse other villagers of witchcraft.
Traditional Shakespeare
“Macbeth” presented by Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, June 7-23, at at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, 3655 Church Road, Ellicott City, info/tickets.
Guests get to go on a field trip with actors through the Ellicott City ruins in CSC’s progressive walking production of Shakespeare’s supernatural tragedy, “Macbeth.” Exercise and culture! Win!
“Twelfth Night” presented by Green Globe Theatre, June 21-July 5, at Green Globe Theatre, 141 S. Clinton St., info/tickets.
Disguises come out and hijinks ensue when Shakespeare’s heroes wash up on the shore by the boardwalk in a beach town in the 1980s.
“Romeo and Juliet” presented by Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, June 28-July 1, at The Great Hall Theater at St. Mary’s Community Center, 3900 Roland Ave., info/tickets.
There’s a reason this tale of star-crossed lovers is one of Shakespeare’s most popular. Revisit an old favorite with BSF this summer. Haven’t seen it, or faked your way through ninth grade English? Well, now’s your chance to find out what all the buzz has been about … for 300 years.
“Love’s Labour Lost” presented by Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, June 28-July 28, at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, 3655 Church Road, Ellicott City, info/tickets.
Bring a picnic for CSC’s summer “in the ruins” production of this pun-filled Shakespeare comedy featuring the King of Navarre and three courtiers who agree to avoid the distractions of women for three years while they study and pray.
Musicals
“A New Brain” presented by Iron Crow Theatre, through June 9 at Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St., info/tickets.
The comedic musical centers on Gordon, a children’s TV show composer who dreams of writing Broadway’s next hit musical, then suffers a brain seizure.
“Welcome to Shakesville” presented by Baltimore Rock Opera Society, through June 16 at Zion Church Of the City Of Baltimore, 400 E. Lexington St., info/tickets.
The BROS describe their original spring production as “a groovy love letter to the ’60s filled with puppets, magic, and rock ‘n’ roll,” inspired by The Muppets, Lidsville and Yellow Submarine.
“Pride & Joy: The Marvin Gaye Musical,” presented by The Modell Lyric, June 13-16, at The Modell Lyric, 140 W. Mt Royal Ave., info/tickets.
The new musical tells the little known love story between legendary R&B singer Marvin Gaye and songwriter/producer Anna Gordy through 28 songs from Gaye’s Motown catalog.
“Our Story” presented by Arena Players, June 7-23, at Arena Players, 801 McCulloh St., info/tickets.
This musical follows Desiree on a quest for love in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Arena Players says the show has elements of “Romeo and Juliet,” “West Side Story” and “The Little Mermaid.”
“Disaster The Musical” presented by Cockpit in Court, June 14-30, at CCBC Essex’s Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Rosedale, info/tickets.
This musical parodies and pays comedic tribute to 1970s disaster films and popular disco hits of the era, told via a group of New Yorkers attending the opening of a floating casino and encountering earthquakes, killer bees and more.
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” presented by Charm City Players, June 22-July 14, at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Auditorium at Mercy High School, 1300 E. Northern Pkwy., info/tickets.
Oompa loompa into Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory with one of Baltimore’s top children’s theaters as it presents the 2004 musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantasy. Featuring songs from the 1971 movie as well as the new material by the composer behind “Jekyll and Hyde.”
“Hamilton” presented by Broadway Across America, June 25-July 21, at Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St., info/tickets.
Musical god Lin-Manuel Miranda created the biggest Broadway hit in history with his hip-hop interpretation on America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and served as the new nation’s first Treasury secretary.
Correction: A previous version of this roundup said all performances of “Hamilton” were sold out, when in fact there are still some tickets available on select dates. We regret the error.
HAMILTON is not sold-out.